Epistemic Injustice in Cases of Compulsory Psychiatric Treatment

Abstract

This thesis examines the impact of epistemic injustice on people in compulsory psychiatric treatment, providing an account of ‘institutional’ testimonial injustice, and proposing structural solutions, which will require the incorporation of epistemic resources challenging dominant clinical perspectives. Exploring the history of Mad Pride and some of the objections to its aims, I demonstrate not only that their alternative epistemic resources are valid, but that psychiatry as a discipline will struggle to claim objectivity without genuine engagement with them. I ultimately contend that this will not be possible while compulsory treatment remains a reality, providing an epistemic argument for ..